Building friendship economies in Kochi

In the sixth edition of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, curators Nikhil Chopra and HH Arts Spaces hope to create conversations that endure beyond the event

- Avantika Bhuyan

The Kochi-Muziris Biennale is seeking redemption after a rough 2022 edition plagued by infrastructural challenges and logistical delays. As ripples of this chaos were palpable in the ensuing months, the team took a brief interlude to reassess, rethink and reimagine the biennale, which is now back with a new spirit. To be held across 12 new venues, in addition to nine existing ones and seven collateral venues, the 20 edition is themed ‘For the Time Being’, drawing from collective memories of history and culture. For the first time, instead of a single curator, the biennale is led by Nikhil Chopra and HH Arts Spaces, Goa.

For Mario D'Souza, director of programmes, Kochi Biennale Foundation and curatorial member of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, this short hiatus allowed the team to seek ways of building a platform that was honest and true to its context and limitations—both financial and infrastructural. Featuring the works of 66 artists/collectives and several parallel shows, the 2025 edition (12 December to 31 March) moves away from the idea of a biennale as a singular central event to become more conversational in tone.

Through the mix of projects and works, the cultural event seeks to challenge the idea of internationalism itself. “Muziris was significant in ancient times when it engaged in trade and cultural exchange with civilisations across the world. Internationalism was created here before colonial ships took to sea. We want to get back to that local context,” says D’Souza. The various elements of this edition—ranging from the exhibitions, collateral events to the Students Biennale and Invitations section—unfurl like chapters in a book, coexisting and conversing with one another.